Landon Harper will take over as the next head baseball coach after four years as an assistant coach.
He will bring pitching expertise to a Cardinals roster that is looking to fill key roles after losing a handful of seniors last season. Harper played baseball at Barton County Community College and Fort Hays State University. After graduating, Harper was a free agent with the Detroit Tigers organization and pitched two seasons in Lakeland, Florida, for a minor league affiliate.
Harper said he loved getting to be a part of the team and is excited to take the top role this season.
“I have three daughters,” he said. “But in springtime, I get 30 sons for two and a half months.”
He said he wants to build a flourishing program not just on the field, but off the field.
“We’re never going to give up,” Harper said. “We’re never out of a game, you know, we’re going to fight to the end.”
Senior Jack Cline said he was excited to see the professional expertise Harper can bring to the team. He said the team has a great relationship with Harper already from his years as an assistant. Players can joke around and feel comfortable with him, Cline said, but also focus when they need to.
He said the team’s system won’t change dramatically, but he expects the Cardinals to be aggressive on the base paths and utilize Harper’s pitching experience.
“I think a lot of younger guys are gonna have to step up, and I think he’ll really help them, especially the pitchers, work in the bigger roles with the team,” Cline said. “I think that we should have some pretty good success this year.”
Athletic Director Cara Kimberlin said Harper was her first call when the job opened. She said when there is a candidate who is already familiar with the program and community, plus one who has as much experience as Harper, it makes the hire easy.
“He’s got a great rapport with the kids,” Kimberlin said. “One of the things that Landon has worked with is the pitchers. In today’s world of baseball, with the arm care stuff and all the restrictions put on players as far as how much they can throw in a week, it’s good to have somebody that already knows all those ins and outs.”
Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]
